Upholsterer&#39;s application tool



Nov., 15, 194s.

. E. J. STAUFFER UPHOLSTERER S APPLICATION TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledAug. 28, 1944 Nov. 16, 1948. E. J. sTAUFFER 21,453,872

UPHOLSTERERS APPLICATION TOOL Filed Aug. 2s. 1944 2 sheets-sheet 2 f wwwPatented Nov. 16,y 1948 UPHOLSTERERS APPLICATION 'roL `Edward JgStauieig Naperville,- Ill., assigner to Kroehlerv Mfg. C0., Naperville,lll., a2 corpora- `tion` of Illinois Application August' as, 1944,serial No. 551,585

The present invention relates te clip applicator tools and moreparticularly to a power actuated magazine storage device` for applyingassembly clips to coil spring structuresof thefkind utilized inupholstered furniture. i,

The principal object ofthe present invention is to providea power.actuated mechanism for advancing upholsterers assembly clips from astorage magazine position toan application 'position and tov thereafterapply the clip by crimping its lug formations to wrap about andsecurelyhold the coil spring units to an upholstery loutlining frame of wire orrod material.r

In many classes of upholstered furniture, spring cushioned seats,etc.,h'elical or c onicalcoil springs are assembled in vrows and securedin position to a perimetric framework. VAt the point of tangency of theupper convolutions of each coil to a metallic wire which constitutes theperimetric frame, mechanical securernentfiseffected by the applicationof an encircling clip in addition to which the-coils are secured tomeachother by various inter-connecting devices, such as coill springs, ropeties and other media'.` `inthe process of assembling coordinate rows ofcoil springs, an operator is required to hold 'eachspring in positionand then to exert a manualforcesufcient to eect the necessary shapingofthe binding clip. While placing the clip with,` its applicator tool, aslight exertionof force `isfnecessary in order to retain the clipinposition within the applicator tool. These various PICcautions areexcessively bothersome and require skill in order to be performed ateven a low rate of assembly.

The present invention proposes any apparatus which will retain a`substantial supply ofjapplicator clips in a, magazinecolumn tobe fredone at a time to the clamping position.` In` addition, means lareprovided for retaining the clip in the clamping position againstinadvertent displacement and in readiness to beset down upon a springand frame assembly with but little `skill requirement durin-g operation.The apparatus is adapted to be suspended by counterpoise-weights so asto afford exceeding facilityform'anipulation with one handandso tobeoperated by the same hand as is used in holding, leaving the other handfree to perform adjustments and placement operations when necesary. Byexerting a slight squeezing pressure, which may be executed with greatfacility regardless of the position angularly in which the machine isheld, lvan air cylinder Claims. (Cl. y14u-55 operating plunger isactuated to effect the clamping operation and upon its release, clip`feed. mechanism is automatically responsive to v-posif 2 tion asucceeding clip in readiness for another operation.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the present inventionconsists of a simple and compact arrangement as will now be described inparticular detail, having yreference to'the ac-y companying drawings andto the following cle-1 tailed specification, in which like referencenumerals designate correspondingparts throughout and, in which:

Fig. lis a side elevation of an vautomatic up-` holsterers clipapplicator vtool havingembodied therein certain features ofthe presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse` sectional viewtaken approximately on klineZ--Zof Fig.,` l and featuring the clamping 'jaws' in relaxed position;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View similar to Fig. 2 showingtheclamping jaws in operated position; v i vFig. 4 is afragmentaryvdetail view taken approximatelyion line f4 of Fig, l; v

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of an upholstery frame 'assemblyshowing the` manner in which the clips may be employed for securing thecontiguous coil convolutions to the perimetric Wire frame;

Fig.6 is a transverse sectional View taken approximately on line 6 6 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 7 is aperspective View of one of the clips;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view of one of the clips applied onto thetangent point between a coil spring and a perimetric frame rod; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail section taken approximately on line 9 9 ofFig. 8. i

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the reference characterIl designates a principal supporting body shaped at I2 to affordconvenience for gripping so that the operators hand' may be confined bythe limits of the hilt ridges I3 and I4. Cross-sectionally the bodyissubstantially circular, as loestindicated` in Fig. 6, and is providedwith a rectangular channelway I5, in which there may` be received asupply column of clips l'nested one upon the other, after the mannerbest designated in Figs- 1 and 4. Each clip is provided on one side witha.v central tab or tongue I1 and on its other side with a pair of spacedtabs I8. The spacing and arrangement of vthe .tabs I1 and I8 ispreferably such 'that thev space intervening the tabs I8 is equivaurgeddownwardly inthe magazine chute I5 by retention means through which theclips may bey inserted sidewardly. The lowermost clip is designed torest upon a track afforded' by the-underhanging ribs 26 and 2l of thefacefplate 28, Fig. 5, which member is secured asvby the screwsj29- tothe body stock I l. A `shuttle carriage 3|, which rests upon the trackZ--Z'Ll is provided with a sidewardly extending arm 32 pivot'ally'engaged as at 33 to the lowermost extremity of a telescoping armextension 34 of a bell crank lever, whose principal arm 35 is springurged in a clockwise direction about the pivot 35`by a helical spring,3T..

The opposite arm. 38 of the bell crank hasits extremity bent over. atright angles-so as. to eX tend inwardly through a slot 39 of the bodyand' begreceived in an aperture 4|. of a piston rod 42 The upperextremity of piston rod tzextends. into al pistonhousing 43` and isintegrally asso` ci'ate'diwith the air. operated piston 44`in theconventional manner. The lower extremity of rod 42 is slightly offset,as best indicated at 4,5 in dottedou'tline, Fig. 1', and terminates witha common pivotv 4G for a pair of"symmetricall`y oppo-l site'leveragelinks 4l and' 43, the former of` which ispivot'edA as at 49' toy oneclamping jaw. 5| and thelattertothe. opposite clampingjaw 52..

Clampingjaws and I52 are mutually pivoted atl 53 and are providedwithappropriate jaw sec.- tions to correspondwith the lugs and I8 oftheclips |6th`at is tosay, jaw 5| has a single and centralI jaw'element 54to. engage. the single lug l1, while jaw 52' has a pair of" spacedjawelements; each for" engaging one ofi the lugs-` IS in order toelect'the`A clamping; operation indicated inrig. 3. A f

When the piston 44"is actuated by permitting the entrance to itsoperating side of'air under pressure through a control valve. 55, rod4'2" is. thrust do-wnwardly spreadingr theA link'levers 4T and 48, afterthe manner 'indicatedinFig 3; rock'- ingthe jaws`5l and 52"'intothepositionshown in this illustration,y and rocking bell crank" lever-38fcounteraclockwi`se ab'outit's pvot'36'. As Ya result-'ofI the-lattermovement; .a pivot' 33`is moved.

rightwardly as arm extension 34 slides within the conningflips56'lof`arm 35i'and'shuttle 3| is. apreviously supported movedto therightso that clip` l'lwhichhadfbeen resting on theshoulders 5T offthelshuttle3| descends to` be supportedinstead uponthe tracks 26 and" 21. upon ithe resumption of normal position. by, the elementsv actuated throughpiston rod' 42; bell crank 35i-38 resumes its shuttle Tis moved lto theleft, Fig. 1.

This `movement on-the part of shuttle 3| causes the ultimataclip befbrought into iin-eter wire 6| and'the coil "wire 62' in readiness.

for the forming of the clipintothe holding-clamp.

Itwill beobserved 'further that 'j aw l 52is. recessed.

Thereafter,

clockwise position and I6 tol be shiftedleftwardly and. alinement` withthe supporting lips-EB-"and 59, which are. integrally formediwith.respectively. The positionof tlieclipy I6 awaiting the operation cf theclamp 4. as at 63 to accommodate the greater radius diameter which is tobe formed around the relatively thicker perimeter wire 6|, whereas thejaw 5| is provided with a smaller cut-away portion 64 to correspond withthe relatively smaller diameter of the coil wire 62.

Upon each operation of the apparatus, the shuttle 3| is movedrightwardly to permit a succeeding clip I6 to drop to the level of thetrack 26-21 and upon the restoration movement, shuttle 3| resumes itsleft hand position, as shown in Fig. 1. In order to make for greaterconvenience,

it isproposed that automatic clamping units of the type described besupported from a counterbalanced weight. so that the weight of theapparatus itself may be: eliminated as a labor factor and thecounterpoise may be suitably fastened to the unit by providing anelement integral with thepiston housing or cylinder wall 43.

Air for operating the piston 44 may be admitted through a supply pipe'under the control of-a doubl'econtro-l" valve. 'of-v any conventionaldesignL 55, one on eachside asrepresented in Fig. l.V The valve', may beactuated by a bellv crank lever 6lA when' the latter is pulleddownwardly byr a` control link 68. Each controllink Ellis pivoted asiat89'` to an arm 'Il' integrally formed with a pivotedgripping lever l2for which appropriate recessing may be provided in the wall of the bodyand for which pivoted support may be hadas at 'I3 in pivot' rods thatextend through hilt ridge I3.

During operation it is-necessary but for the operator to exert' a rmergrip or squeeze upon the handle regioni! in order to effect theactuationof one or 'both of the-control handles ofV the, controlgrips12, whereby tovcausetheopening of Upon relaxation of thisv the controlvalve 55.. pressure, the valve, 55 seals and blee'der` ducts inwellknowny manner permit the escapeof the actuating uid whereupon byappropriate spring pressure' the elements resume their normalcondition;

While the present invention has been explainedl and described withreference. to a particular embodiment, .itis to be understoodnevertheless'thatnumerous variations and mod'ications are contemplatedwithin the realm ofthe disclosure. Itl is accordingly not intended tobe/limited by thev details featured in the'A accompanyingy drawings;

norbythe precise languageoffthe foregoing speci1"ication,.except` asindicated -in. thehereunto ap pended claims.

'Ihe inventionclaimedis:

1'. A vpower operatedclamping apparatus comprising.. a vertical housing.member enclosingf'a magazine channelway for. a-vstacknof nested'up4-holsterersjclip's longitudinally? thereof and enf closingalsoajournatfor anfoperating rod par-- allelingv said channelway, porting thelowermosttained-in said..magazine1channelway for transverse. shuttlemovementfa. setv-of-y clamping jaws for processing. each clip.l afteritL has'been ad;

vanceduin said'shuttle movement, a bell cranklever. operatedgbysaidrxrod to lshuttle each clip.- from its magazine channelway position'toits` clamping jawl position andto return for-a-subse" quent clip.- f

2.,Thecombination set'. forth in claim 1,V including a fluid loperatedpiston, a'supporting-.zgrip defining.. a. central portion of saidhousing andf control meansfonsa-idipiston located a't'arld' actuated byvsqueezing fthe supporting lzgr'ipfofsaid fr apparatus.

3 A power-1 operated-.apparatus=forlstoringand I:

trackway means for sup-v4 of a-series of clips con-'- applying strappingclips comprising, a vertical member having a magazine channelwaylongitudinally thereof for carrying a stack of upholsterers clips instraddled alignment and a bore paralleling said magazine channelway, anoperating plunger extending through said bore, means for supporting thelowermost of said stack of upholsterers clips contained in said magazineat a lowermost portion of said Vertica1 member for subsequent transverseshuttle movement, a set of clamping jaws actuated by said operatingplunger for forming each clip after it has been advanced through saidshuttle movement, a bell crank lever actuated by said plunger in adirection from shuttle advancement position to a new clip engagementposition and spring means acting upon said bell crank lever upon thereturn movement of said plunger to advance a clip from its magazinestorage to its jaw clamping position.

4. In a device for storing and applying upholsterers clips, a main bodymember supporting at one end thereof a pneumatic piston actuator and atits other end clip feeding and clip clamping mechanisms, and anintermediate portion to said main body member comprising a shaped handlesusceptible of being encircled by an operators manual grip and includinga portion affording a passageway for a piston rod connecting saidactuator and said clamping mechanism, a

portion affording a passageway and magazine tral handle support of suchslender proportions as to be encircled by an operators grip, a pneumaticactuator mounted at the upper end of said member including a thrust rodextending through a longitudinal bore in said handle support, a storageand feed magazine curving into and extending longitudinally through saidhandle support for housing and directing a nested stack of upholsterersclips, valve control triggers ilanking said handle support forregulating the admission of operating fluid to said actuator, a pair ofclip forming jaws and toggle levers acted upon by said thrust rod forclosing each of said clips about upholstery frame elements, and aterminal portion at the lower end of said body member through which saidclips are directed to clamping position including a bell crank leverspring urged to clip advancing movement and returned to engagesucceeding clips by a camming action imparted by said piston rod duringits clamp actuating stroke.

EDWARD J. STAUFFER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,062,098 MacChesney Nov. 24,1936 2,145,461 smith Jan. 31, 1939 2,147,976 Harrison Feb. 21, 19392,195,889 Maynard Apr. 2, 1940 2,205,690 Green June 25, 1940 2,208,819Smith July 23, 1940 2,325,322 Jackson July 27, 1943

